It's Totally Got Me Thinking...Edward Who?!

Warning: Reading this post will spoil episode 5 (Sept. 15). Don't read if you plan on watching it! Cause I gotta talk about it!

Vampire Diaries has totally captured my full attention. It has me glued to the couch. I love finding a show that gives you that feeling of not being able to wait til next week's show.

I love that Alana (sp?) knows about the vampires now. The scene where he tells her the truth had me quoting Twilight..."Say it out loud"..."VAMPIRE."

Some of this show is so predictable too, but I loved the Katherine twist...I didn't even consider that she was a vampire! I had envisioned her as innocent and vulnerable and tragically killed.

Bonnie has been one of my fave characters from the beginning...not sure why. I loved the dancing with Damon scene...although I would have put more modest undies on the girl! Yikes! I can't wait to see what kind of chaos she creates next week!

Now that we got blood thirsty vampires back I must admit something...it makes those sparkly ones seem a little pathetic. What did I just say? I think Damon has been using his mind control on me...

*Who is your favorite character?
*Has this show stolen some of your Twilight addiction?
*Stefan or Damon?
*If not Vampire Diaries...what show is your guilty pleasure?

Who Could Resist That Smile

I am one of those people whose thoughts and feelings are "written all over my face." My face gives me away when I am mad, sad, glad, bad, disgusted, etc.

The other day I guess I was a little too happy to see someone. They took one look at me and said, "You are entirely too smiley for my liking."

What?! I don't say anything and this person looks at me again...

"Don't look at me that way."

I am sure my expression was one of hurt, embarrassment, and confusion.

One of the best compliments I was ever given was

"Your smile is contagious."

I also have that often annoying ability to find the positive among a pile of negative. I think that comes from knowing God and that everything happens for a reason. I may freak out about changes at first...but once I am given time to think I can just pick up and roll with it.

One downside of being a smiley face is that I also have the problem of laughing at the wrong times. Like when people get hurt. One time I saw a friend grab the back of a 4wheeler and tell the driver to go and she would hang on. The driver thought she would be smart enough to let go. He punched the gas...she did not let go. Have you ever seen someone bounce off the pavement? It is hilarious...especially when it is caused by moronic behavior. She was fine...except for some scrapes and bruises. However, she was a little ticked at me. I was bent over her trying to ask if she was ok, but couldn't quit laughing long enough to get it out.

What is the last thing that made you smile?

Boo! I Scared You!

This friendly little Halloween plaque invites you into our home...

The first things to greet you are the newest additions to my autumn decor. I fell in love and had to have this Longaberger basket, wrought iron cat holder, and set of placemats for my kitchen counter.

I loved the saying on this towel. Wild Child decided the bat looks "very mad."

In the dining room you will find one of my favorite fall pieces. My mom made this wall hanging for me several years ago. I {heart} scarecrows.

An Annalee witchy mouse keeps watch on the table.

As we head into the family room a spooky garland hangs in the doorway where soon our stockings will hang.

My mom made this scarecrow for me too. He sits in Wild Child's rocker from Cracker Barrel. This chair is the first spontaneous purchase I remember that I did not worry about where the money was going to come from. Dr. Hubby had been practicing 5 months.

It feels so good to put decorations down "low" now that the babies are older. The other night SIL came to my home. I kinda hoped she would compliment my decorating. The only thing she commented on was this candle arrangement...she said it "looked like Christmas." I think she is nuts.

I found this adorable owl at TJMaxx for $3.99. The bow in the basket is from flowers Dr. Hubby sent me one year for my birthday.

In the kids' bathroom I added these decos that I have had FOREVER! They love the sparkly garland.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. I found these suckers at Walmart. The box holds exactly the amount I need for the 2 little ones' classes. I am going to get a little scrappy on the box and decorate it up...stay tuned....

Oops I almost forgot our spookiest decoration of all...in the garage...

I found him today. No I did not kill him...I ran away like a scared little girl!

Happy Fall Y'All!

I Got Nothing

I have blog-block and I can't come up with a post...this has never happened.

Any ideas? What do you want me to post about?

Jinxed By A Chubby Chick Eating Chinese

Yesterday I was merrily on my way to Walmart with my 3 kids and MD's BFF Taylor (cause grocery shopping is so easy with kids I like to take mine AND an extra one or two) when someone requested we eat chinese. Well, I wouldn't want them to get hungry and feel bad while we pick out our healthy food.

At the restaurant there was a lady and 2 teens sitting at the table across from us. We made eye contact and exchanged smiles. I went to the buffet to fill the 2 little one's plates. When I came back the lady said,

"Your kids are so well behaved. They just sat there and talked while you were gone."

My heart dropped to my toes and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up! If we had been in a movie...the wind would have suddenly changed direction. I said "thank you" and she proceeded to tell me about the horrors of eating out with her friend's children.

Everything was fine...we had a great meal. Then we went to Walmart...

Cutie decided she was mad and was going to argue at me through all the health and beauty aisles. She caught sight of the Halloween section and became my "hat." Wild Child got away from the 2 teens and Manga Dork said there was a woman who actually said "Gee!" while they chased her through half the store. Then the teens got called down by a Walmart associate for playing volleyball down an aisle. I was innocently in the food section. Yes...my children were "Those kids" and I was "That mom."

They even had the nerve to ask for ice cream while we were driving home.

I knew I shouldn't have had chinese.

Vacation Preparation?

Our New Orleans trip is only 20 days away, and I am very excited about exploring a new city! If you vacation with me the one tip I can give you is "bring good walking shoes." I want to see and do and experience everything the location has to offer. I love all the little details (seeing both cornstalk fences)...all the cliche things that come to mind when you think of the location (eating at Cafe Du Monde and taking the streetcar)...all the unexpected "vacation candy" (stepping over a drunk on Bourbon Street and capturing paranormal activity in a photo during a ghost tour). I love it ALL!

When I have time to prepare for a trip I am very organized. I start by searching the internet and making a favorites folder for the city. I begin my search with "Top Ten Things To Do In..." and "Best Things To Do In..."

I search our library for videos and books. A fun book to check out is the "Weird State Name" series. Thanks to "Weird New York" I knew to go to a section of Grand Central Station and Dr. Hubby and I whispered "I love you" into the columns and we could hear each other from across the hall...vacation candy!

I use a small notebook to take notes from the computer, books, and videos. I make lists...lists...and more lists. All the planning allows me to stick as much into my time as possible. I am very efficient. I love the preparation almost as much as I love the trip! The trick is not to plan so tightly that you don't have time for the unexpected...leave some leisure time each day.

How do you prepare for a trip?

My Happy Place

I love to lay down on my bed in the middle of the day...close my eyes...relax all my muscles...and let my mind wander...

Sometimes my day is so stressful that I will take a moment and "tiptoe to my happy place." My happy place is Archivers...stop giggling I know I am a nerd. I imagine walking down the aisles...looking at the paper and other scrappy goodies. I love it.

Where is your happy place?

Cutie Got Evaluated

With all the issues in our 2 little ones' birthfamily it really worries me what their challenges may be. Today I took Cutie for a speech evaluation. When she started preschool in September she started stuttering and fluttering her eyelids when trying to speak. This has totally went away, but we still kept the appt. due to delayed speech. She is about a year behind with her speech, but the therapist was amazed with her language and ability to express herself. I mentioned some of my worries and I thank the Lord for the reassurance the therapist gave me. She did not see any markers of something serious right now. Thank you Lord for blessing my babies with healthy lives...looking at the other birthsiblings I know it could be very different.

Btw...about 2 weeks ago Foster Son was adopted by the family he moved in with after leaving our home...we are so happy for him.

Chick Flick Double Feature!

Dr. Hubby brought home this DVD on Tuesday night! Jennifer Garner is my fave character...she has to be a sweet person in real life...she's so cute. The plot is a tad predictable...who am I kidding...it is WAY predictable! Still worth renting...

Last night Manga Dork and I brought home this DVD...Dr. Hubby worked late for some reason? LOL! This is a good movie to watch with the girls. I don't think it would rank as a favorite movie...but it is a fun one. Richard Dreyfus's "Irv" will steal your heart!

Happy Movie Watching!

Caution: Flying Pigs!

For the last couple days I have had several interactions with my MIL. I laughed harder last night with her than I have laughed in a long time. McDonalds gave me the wrong snack wrap...I asked if I could have the "mistakes" for my dog...they said "yes"...thinking their window was closed my MIL started barking...the window was not closed. H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S. Sorry Annie Louise...she ate them too.



NieNie was on Oprah yesterday. I loved it. She is so beautiful and I love that Oprah showed her teaching another mom to be more appreciative...I think that is one of her gifts from God. It is impossible to read NieNie without being inspired to be better.


Nordstrom.com caught my attention with their new Twilight items.

Manga Dork insists on being Team Jacob. Even I thought the "because Edward bites" was cute on this T.

Debbie Macomber's new Christmas book "The Perfect Christmas" is out now. She always delivers sweet holiday romances.

Yesterday the DirecTV guy did not show up between 12 and 4. What a pain! I came home from the volleyball game last night to a message on my answering machine accusing us of giving an address that doesn't exist so we could get local channels...huh? Something about access piracy. He said he would give us a chance to contact DirecTV and do the "right thing." His number came up private caller. Said something rude about wasting his time. Does he not know I am having PMS?

It's almost the weekend!